Story perspectives

Iraq Bans Waze by End of December 2026

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 3:31 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Iraqi Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad announced a ban on the Israeli-developed Waze navigation app.
The ban will take effect at the end of December 2026, earlier than the planned early-2027 start.
Sanad said the ban is because Waze is made in Israel and sends money and data to the Israeli state.
He urged users to switch to Google Maps or a forthcoming Iraqi navigation app.

History

Historical Context

On 26 October 1994 Israel and Jordan signed a 30-article peace treaty that ended the 1948 state of war and opened borders for tourism and trade. The accord, the second Arab-Israeli peace deal after Egypt, demonstrated a shift toward regional cooperation. In 2024 Iraq’s communications minister Mustafa Sanad banned the Israeli-developed Waze app, urging use of Google Maps or a domestic alternative.

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Story summary

Iraqi Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad announced a ban on the Israeli-developed Waze navigation app.
The ban will take effect at the end of December 2026, earlier than the planned early-2027 start.
Sanad said the ban is because Waze is made in Israel and sends money and data to the Israeli state.
He urged users to switch to Google Maps or a forthcoming Iraqi navigation app.

1 / 2